Wednesday, March 27, 2013

I finally got to try Wintermelon Pearl Milk Tea at Chowking Araneta Square last month. The product seemed like the resto just getting on the wintermelon milk tea craze that's sweeping the country, but I've loved Chowking's Naicha since that one came out on the market, so Chowking's new milk tea was a welcomed move for me.

The wintermelon milk tea I got looked promising due to the nice creamy froth on top. The rest of the drink was lackluster though. The milk tea was not sweet enough and did not taste much like tea. It did not taste much like anything, actually, and gave me the impression that it was very much watered down. The pearls were just ordinary, not the chewy and sticky ones that are enjoyable to eat.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

I rarely watch TV but I live with someone who does (and at a high volume) and I would occasionally overhear this campaign ad featuring a kid reciting an annoying poem. At first I thought the commercial was for a certain politician whom I dislike, thinking that that politician was low enough to embarrass a kid just to get votes. So imagine my surprise when I found out that the campaign ad was for Richard "Dick" Gordon -- a politician whom I actually support and respect.

Very disappointing!

To the people involved in creating and approving this commercial, WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?

When election time comes knocking, politicians are known to do cheesy and even eyeroll-inducing stunts -- having campy jingles, kissing babies, singing, visiting slums, getting real-life Juan dela Cruz "mascots" to vouch for them. Still, the Aksyon Gordon ad is beyond lame.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

NaiCha is a nice little milk tea place along Sgt. Esguerra in Quezon City. They have naicha, plain teas, milk teas with jelly, and fruity juices.

I got to try three of their naicha specials -- Caramel Naicha, Wintermelon Latte, and Matcha. All were good; the best among the three for me was the Wintermelon Latte.

Prices are pocket-friendly. The drinks are available in three sizes: 16oz, 26oz, and 32oz. Add-ons (pearls, pudding, coffee jelly, almond, and rock salt & cheese) go for P15 each. For some reason, the 26oz drinks are just P10 more than the 16oz versions yet the 32oz ones are P20-P40 higher than the 26oz ones. I don't get the logic in the pricing, but that's how NaiCha's drinks are priced.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Packo's Restaurant & Bar (aka Packo's Grill) is a restaurant/gimik place in Quezon City. Due to its proximity to several business establishments, it is a popular choice for office workers who want to unwind during the weekends. This resto is accessible via private vehicles and tricycles.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

First things first, if you're going to the Manila Hotel in the next few days and will be coming from the northern part of Metro Manila, please allocate at least 30 minutes more travel time. I went last February 25, coming from south Caloocan, and got stuck in heavy traffic between Intramuros and Manila Hotel. There were lots of big trucks that late morning and half of the road was under construction (you know how it is when election time nears), going from Intramuros to Manila Hotel took longer than the travel from Grace Park to Intramuros.

But of course the annoyance I felt because of the traffic went away once I saw the food at Cafe Ilang-Ilang. Nothing soothes the soul quite like good food.

The buffet at Cafe Ilang-Ilang has several sections, such as the Chinese, Filipino, Thai, Korean, Mediterranean, Italian, Churrasco, and Japanese stations.